Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Bag from H-E Double Hockey Sticks

or in other words, my favorite class of the weekend.
This bag was HARD to make.
We did a lot of prep work at home before arriving at Sew South. I think I spent about 6-8 hours piecing the outside of the bag, making the quilt sandwich, straight line quilting, making binding and prepping the pockets.
I started with 2 charm packs of Comma. I just love Brigitte's new line for Moda. I laid them out in a random pattern and made a simple patchwork quilt.

I used the yellow asterisks for the lining and quilted it with a medium grey thread.

We were all sent the pattern design by StudioCherie which can be found here on Craftsy. The key to making this Travel Duffle was having Lindsey LRStitched as our fabulous teacher. She made the bag at home and ironed out all the bugs in it.

Lindsey also designed an inner elastic pocket that is brilliant and redesigned the handles so we could take advantage of Pellon's generous offer to sponsor the interfacing we used in the handles. Without Lindsey, I am not sure I could have followed this pattern.

I arrived at Sew South with my large quilted piece, 2 quilted end pieces, an inner elastic pocket, 2 zippers and some double fold binding.

This class started after lunch, we sewed until our dinner break and then most were in the sewing room until well after midnight. We broke a gazzillion needles, many swear words were muttered and some people were in tears (me). But when each of us finished, all the others in the room broke out in a cheer. What a feeling of accomplishment to finally finish this bag!

our pile of finished Travel Duffle bags

Lindsey and Jennifer

So here is my bag, the end with the zipper pocket.

The side with the small pocket, perfect for a boarding pass or a cell phone.

The inside, elastic pocket.

This photo gives you an idea of the size of the bag. You could pack everything you need for a weekend away and still have room to bring home some extra fabric souvenirs.

I really did not even want to make a duffle bag when I received the class schedule and now I cannot wait until I can make another one. I want to down size the pattern and make one as a purse, and maybe another one for my granddaughter. I love it. I really can't stop looking at it and keep admiring it as it sits in my sewing studio. I haven't put it away yet. It reminds me of my fabulous time at Sew South.

Did I tell you this was my favorite class?
Day one of Sew South ended, but there is still more to share about my experience at the retreat.
to be continued...

How many parts aere there to this Sew South Saga......what an awesome time you had!!! My only worry with a bag of that size would be my inability to lift it!! So it would need courage (Debbie!) and muscle! LOL!

I'm so thankful that you tried the bag even though you really didn't want to and that you powered through! The worst part about it is that during the making, you just think there is no way this is going to turn out. And then once you made that finally seam and turn it out, you realize you totally did it!!

Well said! If I do this again, it will be with a serger and titanium needles!!! Somehow, I think it might come together easier the second time around :). I am ready to try a new bag. I'm looking for a fun messenger bag pattern, any suggestions?

I love the bag and will bookmark the pattern when I next want to make luggage. It sounds like the class and the group were so much fun, and so supportive. Your paper piecing class sounds like it was fun too!

I love you and hate you all at the same time! ;o) I have more of your blogs stared than any other I follow! I guess we have similar tastes! I do have a question about this bag (because I went and bought the silly pattern today!!!!)Was that inside elastic pocket added later and was it something you did in class putting the binding on? The edges are all raw on the pattern?? YOURS LOOKS GREAT!!!